Looking at getting a Hydra

Now that things seem to finally be calming down after months of "its the end of the world" price gouging (at least here in WY), prices are coming back down towards reality.

I'm looking at getting a new rifle. The Hydra has caught my eye....I like that I can basically get into two long guns (556 /762) for about $1600. Could probably get the office to sign off on getting it approved for work on the 556. Could utilize the 7.62 side of things for special duty assignments and other activities, including hunting.

Anyone here have personal experience with this rifle? I tried the search function, but I did not see anything regarding this.

Seems to me for that price you could get a good 5.56mm AR, especially if you build it up yourself and then get a 7.62x39 upper. That way if you decided you wanted to make the 7.62x39 AR its own platform all you'd have to get is a lower.

You are correct. Part of the appeal is just to have the ability to interchange all the calibers on the same platform. Start with the 5.56 and 7.62, but there a numerous other options to grow with. Extremely practical? Probably not. But I think that all depends on how efficiently a person can move from one caliber to another. I do think it looks like a pretty good concept/system.

Being in CA I really like the hydra.
As I can use my preban hicap mags with it in a featureless build.
I can then swap it back to a bullet button build if and when I want all my "evil" features.
I would actually probably get shipped as a "pistol" to have even more options now that the once a rifle always a rifle rule is out.
Giving me a great deal of flexibility in the platform.

The real question for me to you is this, do you already have an abundance of AK style drums? Cause the fact it will accept one with the magwell change seems to me to be the only feature that makes its worth while to me vs just getting two different uppers.

To answer your question: As of now, no, I don't own ANY drums. I have tended to keep my personal firearms compatible with what I can use at work...drums don't fit in there. Things have a way of changing though, and I am starting to expand to a couple "just for fun" items.

On a side note, I can't imagine the headache it must be to work around/within the CA restrictions.

The AR is a pretty flexible platform without having to change the magwell. The biggest advantage I see with the "AR47" type hybrids is being able to use AK47 Mags or more precisely the hicap drums.

You can probably get more flexibility per dollar by sticking with Ar magwell since for the moment you can still get hicap mags for multiple calibers that fit the AR magwells.

From what I understand and it merits further investigation but I believe the Hydra lower is more picky about what uppers will run with it. So make sure before you buy you can slap on other peoples uppers.

Have you thought about an AR upper chambered in 6.8 SPC? The 6.8 SPC was specifically designed to function in a standard AR (i.e. 5.56) lower and use existing M16/M4 magazines but be able to provide better terminal ballistics than the 5.56. I'm not a big AR fan (I'm a troglodyte and prefer wood and steel), but a friend of mine has an AR in 6.8 SPC and I can testify that it is effective on hogs.

This was a medium size hog my friend took at about 50yds with his 6.8SPC AR. He took a much bigger one from about 150yds a couple of weeks ago with the same rifle.

Mushi mo atsui hodo
Mushiatsui

Originally Posted by chuey...Well **** if that isn't the most anti-Mr. Miyagi **** I have heard in ages.

Good points. Brought up some things I hadn't considered; but that is why I posted here. I knew the "standard" AR was extremely flexible and could handle multiple calibers with out bolt mods, but holy **** that is a list.

TEA, I have not considered the 6.8 SPC. It looks like the hog agrees with your endorsement. Regs only allow for certain firearms in certain calibers. I am starting to look beyond those restrictions though.

TEA, I have not considered the 6.8 SPC. It looks like the hog agrees with your endorsement. Regs only allow for certain firearms in certain calibers. I am starting to look beyond those restrictions though.

Since the 6.8 SPC was developed by SOCOM (IIRC, mostly at the request of the SEALs) and was briefly considered by the Army as a replacement for the 5.56 (the idea was scrapped because it is a bad idea to change cartridges in the middle of a war), I would think you could get your department to reconsider its regs. If not, the same lower and magazines that you use for a 5.56 would work for a a 6.8.

Mushi mo atsui hodo
Mushiatsui

Originally Posted by chuey...Well **** if that isn't the most anti-Mr. Miyagi **** I have heard in ages.